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Starbucks protests set to be the “tasting grounds” for $15 minimum wage debate

Starbucks protests set to be the “tasting grounds” for $15 minimum wage debate

by The Charlette Report

by The Charlette Report – A Reader’s Blog!Are there any grounds for concern?

[Update: No grounds for concern, it appears $15Now’s campaign is dwindling as only several supporters showed up compared to the dozens of Starbucks customers]

Somethings a Brewing
In an announcement April 8th, $15 Now has announced protests at several Starbucks over the weekend including Capitol Hill’s Olive Way Starbucks. Yawn. In regards to community support I remember this particular Starbucks was THANKED by the community for supporting gay marriage in 2012 with a rally. I reported on this Starbucks in 2010 as the last of three prototypes to test new designs. I remember Kris Engskov, the Starbucks Regional Vice President Pacific Northwest Region was very friendly and personable saying “We started this project 10 months ago and we talked to customers and asked if they could do anything, what would they want? They gave us alot of feedback.” Yes, its amazing isn’t it? Starbucks actually talks to people! Kris hopes the store will become “Capitol Hill’s Living Room” with its comfort and inviting atmosphere and set the standard for other Starbucks around the nation. Indeed this Starbucks I believe with its large wall windows, patio, fireplace and wood is one of the most beautiful Starbucks in the Northwest to work in and a great example of companies working with people and the community.

Sorry, but gulp, its hard to protest a gay friendly, green built LEED certified, sustainable community coffee house where the employees actually like working there and take pride in talking about their aged coffee beans. And gees, Howard Schultz is working with Oprah and making a donation for each product sold to the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy Foundation for youths. Howard, Howard, Howard, your coffee ring halo is showing. I recall one of my former co-workers left her cubicle job for Starbucks because they had better pay and benefits. Go girl!
FYI, one of the tables at the Olive Way Starbuck is resalvaged from Garfield High School where Jimi Hendrix graduated and Bruce Lee did demonstrations which in my opinion makes it “sacred grounds”.

I’ll take a Triple Shot – Support entry level workers in Seattle

Three organization have now announced their own campaigns to essentially counter $15 Now with their own plans:Many small business owners and associations know the $15 minimum wage is too drastic an increase and have organized to offer more practical processes.
According to their facebook Sustainable Wages is planning counter protests to several $15 Now’s protest of Starbucks – one of Seattle’s largest employers.

“Help show your support for keeping entry-level workers in Seattle employed by buying products at Starbucks during the scheduled protest.”

“Sustainable Wages Seattle is a group of Seattle small business owners and activists opposed to the 15 Now campaign. We don’t believe Seattle should regulate wages. Not only is $15 per hour too much, but ANY increase in the minimum wage will damage small businesses, while favoring big-box stores and national chains.”

Alex Fryer, spokesperson of the new OneSeattle Coalition stated their website is set to go live tomorrow and says “small business concerns are real”. The Coalition developed from many businesses expressing concern and Ales hopes their membership demonstrates support for the principles of phase in, compensation, training wages and no “carve outs”.

OneSeattle Coalition’s Mission

OneSeattle Coalition’s mission is to positively engage the debate over minimum compensation to ensure that the most vulnerable workers get a raise while other employees maintain the ability to make a middle-class income. We want to ensure businesses, nonprofits, restaurants and manufacturers work in partnership with elected officials and others to create a better Seattle.OneSeattle Facebook

Recently Forward Seattle has put out reports on what is called Effective Minimum Wage
Effective Minimum Wage = Minimum Wage Adjusted for Cost of Living

1) To date, even after the latest round of wage increases, Seattle continues to have the highest
effective minimum wage for tipped and non-tipped employees of any major metropolitan
area in the US. This result is not based on our analysis alone. This same result was found in a
July 2013 study by the NYC comptroller examining minimum wages in the US.”

Wake up and Smell the Coffee – $15 minimum was perhaps too tall of an order
The fact is large companies are not the enemy and we need developing businesses small and large to grow Seattle together. I would like to see opposing groups sit down over a beer cup of coffee and rationally discuss issues. That is the Seattle way.
It appears Seattle is waking up.

The Charlette Report can be contacted at seattlecharlette@gmail.com or at any coffee house on Capitol Hill. Charlette is a member of the unaffiliated Broadway Business Owners Association.

Note: This is a seattlepi.com reader blog. It is not written or edited by the P-I. The authors are solely responsible for content. E-mail us at newmedia@seattlepi.com if you consider a post inappropriate.